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Converting Singer antique to bath vanity

15 years ago

Do any of you know of anyone who has converted an antique Singer treadle machine into a bathroom vanity? I'm considering doing this for our halfbath and would like to find someone who can offer me some tips.

THX!

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Comments (9)

newdawn1895
15 years ago
I have no tips but I have seen just about everything used as a vanity, but not a sewing machine. But it would certainly be untique.
sdionnemoore
Original Author
15 years ago
Uh, I meant the cabinet, not the machine itself. The cabinets are really lovely, with wrought iron and nice little drawers. I think they're just the right height for a vessel sink, though I don't physically have one to look at right now. I'm seriously considering trying to make this work.
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I have not but I have a tredle and I can see how great it would be. I think you need a plumbers advice to how much to take out first and how much to cut out the top. The drawers will be great place for hair brushes and such. I can not use mine. My DD mom got it for him and I have carted it all over. Used it a lot doing heavy work. We moved to small apt and 7 yr son was sleeping on couch. He kept having nightmares and coming into my bed. He would shake and look away from the door and say don't look he will hurt you. I mean he was horrified. Who. The man in the door. Finally after many times of this the next day he told me that the man sat on the machine at night watching him. As he got older and we had it in storage, he told me that the man was probably a teenager, that he had on pants just below his knees and a hat like his dad like (a golfer or newsboy hat from back when). So it has not been in the house since. He was supposed to be the one to inherit but he said no thanks.
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It's 36" to the top of the vanity and nearly 41" to the top of the sink. Our upstairs "normal" vanity is 33". We needed to cut off some of the legs to bring it to that height. It worked out well because my husband is quite tall and he appreciates every little bit. I'm short and it's okay for me too. The dreaded finishing question... Prior to the project I had anticipated using a marine varnish on the top, I wanted a really hard, almost bar-top finish. I purchased the bureau on eBay and the finish wasn't very good, I sanded it to smoothe it out and went to our local unfinished furniture store to look at stains. There I got talked into gelstain and a poly gel finish. They insisted it would be hard enough to withstand the water. Well, yes and no. Like newhomebuilder, if I did it again I'd go with stone on top. The sides of the bureau took the stain and poly very well--actually the top did too. I clean it with hot water and a microfiber cloth and dry it with a microfiber cloth. It looks fine but has dulled a bit. In the better picture you can see the edge where it's worn a bit--not as dramatic as in the photo. This happened in another place and it was certainly easy to fix with sanding and reapplication. The woodworking forum has lots of good advice. I'd suggest you troll through the posts before asking your own question. There are at least two members who are very generous with their professional advice but they end up answering the same questions over and over again. They display admirable patience! I'm pretty sure that what I did wouldn't be what the experts would recommend but I do have to say that it was rather simple and the results have been satisfactory.
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les, they don't paint the objects. All of there things looked to be in original stain and in good shape. The piece I'm getting is the original finish, but I think maybe the man buffs out the bad scratches, etc. and then does some touch up and maybe applies some poly. He works on the drawers too because the drawers were easy to open and close. Not like a modern drawer is, but you know, not sticking. The only flaw I found on mine were 2 on the out edge of the mirror. I'm not sure if I should look into having that repaired or just leave it to add character to the piece. None of their furniture looked unstable or very worn so I suppose they start off with good looking pieces and it doesn't take much to make them look great. You're right, if some of those priceless items are touched the value goes down. I saw one such item yesterday at another shop I visited. It was a really beautiful huge armoire, but someone had painted it and well, it took away from the antique factor for me. The only flaw. I had forgotten just how huge some antiques are. You need a really, really big house to put some of these pieces. I saw some china cabinets and buffets that were easily 10 feet long and one was 108 inches tall. I remember that because they actually had a sign on this object telling the dimensions. I thought to myself, how the heck do you move something that big and mirrored!! Looking at all that old furniture brought back memories of my childhood. We had all those huge pieces because we lived in huge houses with tall ceilings back then. That was the norm in N.O. It's going to be nice surrounding myself with some of these furnishings in my new house. Bringing back some good memories.
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Comments (22)
wow. that was a really bold bathroom. and-you do like the same colors. love the vanity (that's my DH's favorite granite btw..he loves maps..and big slabs do look like huge very interesting maps..)) as for what to pick for vanity now..listen to yourself. One needs to be in the mood for finding cool things. I love that idea. I didn't re-purpose but was just lucky to find a very cool handmade vanity on Craigslist for our powder room..very challenging space, and we got it painted(the legs) since it was a bit rusty..and it had to be attached to the wall in a special way etc But now I'm tired..I have to find some furniture on Craigslist for my son's room but I'm sorta in a collapsed mode. so it's not getting done. and i might betray myself and just buy something new..:) which is actually not needed in this case..just to save myself a hassle. and it will be boring new-because not boring new costs too much if you have the energy-go for unique..if it's your usual mode. will make you happier. in the long run do you want to repaint the one that's there-or you don't like it enough?
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allison0704
15 years ago
I took a sewing cabinet and put a marble top on it. It still had the drawers too. Used for one of our night tables for years. Sold it in a yard sale before moving here.

I have seen them in a bathroom too. Probably in a magazine. They had removed all wooden parts and only used the metal base. Granite or marble top. Undermount sink. Faucet on wall. Exposed pipe underneath.
cooperbailey
15 years ago
You could do the same with a marble top or some other surface on the top leaving the cute drawers underneath and put a vessel sink on top. I like the idea.
dilly_dally
15 years ago
I know I have seen it done and with beautiful results. I Google for pics and did not find any worthy of raving about but they are shown in decorating magazines. I would imagine the conversion is not any different than using an old desk.

Cute:

{{!gwi}}

What NOT to do:

{{!gwi}}
reeree_natural
15 years ago
oh my! How cute is that! Love the idea!!
sdionnemoore
Original Author
15 years ago
Dilly Dally! How hilarious. You're so right. I think the thing here is to allow the antique appeal to shine through. That second pic is a hoot! LOVE the first one though. What phrase did you use for your search?
dilly_dally
15 years ago
Hey, that little beauty in the second photo is being offered on CL.

I used 'sewing machine' and 'vanity' in my search terms. Make sure you check both Google image search and Google blog search. Those "how to" renovation blogs have this type of stuff in them all the time.
nanny2a
15 years ago
Yup, that first one's lovely and would be most attractive in the right setting. The second photo is a dog, what a shame to ruin an antiquity with that monstrous sink top!!

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